Tube-deflating machine



V- a w. H. CAMPBELL TUBE DEF'LATING MACHINE Filed May 15, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 W J m 0 we no 1 RN 0d pal wwfl u ad d@ B 0.00 5N. W ma d 0a 8 A M an Q n m0 m4 r l l Q .3 n low Q O a mm Wallam HCampball.

1929- w. H. CAMPBELL 1,735,673

TUBE DEFLATING MACHINE I wrinkling.

Patented Nov. 12, 1929 i s'r'rs WALLACE H. CAMPBELL, or AKRON, OHIO, Assr'elvoit TO THE GOODYEAR Trans;

RUBBER COMPANY, or AKRON, 01110, A coRPoRA'r IoN'or 0310.

TUBE-DEFLATING MACHINE Application filed May 15,

plicable for deflating pneumatic tire-casing inner tubes which either have been cured in individual molds or upon so-called circular mandrels. V

One object of the invention is toprovide a 1 in tube deflating machine which will becapab le of operation in production at a greater rate V of speed than the machines.ofsuchcharac ter heretofore employed. 7

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine capable'of deflating annular rubber tubes having unequal peripheral dimensions without appreciable distortion or The invention comprises a plurality of- 4 tube deflating units which are mounted in spaced relation upon a substantially circular rotatable frame. The units severally are actuated by mechanisms embodying rollers which are associated operatively with a circular camming device. mounted concentrically relative to the rotatable deflating unit supporting frame. The deflating units comprise obliquely disposed apertured plates, rigidly secured to the frame of the machine, upon which the bridge plates of inner tubes are supported and through which the valve stems thereof project. Relatively movable clamping jaws, disposedon opposite sides of the support, are adapted clampingly to, engage the opposite sidewall portions of the inner tubes at the regions thereof immediatelyopposite the valve stems. The bridge plates of the inner tubes are secured rigidly to the support by a pair of spaced cams which are rotated intermittently in opposite directions by a mechanism actuated in response to the movement of one of the clamping jaws. When the bridge plates are secured rigidly in position upon the supports, deflating valves, likewise actuated in response to the movement of the clamping jaws, are moved positively into engagement with the ends of the inner tube valve stems projecting through the supporting plates. The remaining portions of the inner tubes suspended from the 1928. Serial N'O. 277,955.

clamping jaws, are supported by pairs of spaced members secured rigidly to the frame, which members engage the inner tubes only along the sidewall portion thereof,-thus 111- suring the collapse of the inner "tubes along their median planes.

F or a better understanding of the invention, reference may now be had to the accompanying drawings, formin specification, of whichi V Fig. l i is a fragment view of a tube deflating machine constructed g a part ofthe ary cross-sectional according to the invention and embodying a side elevational view of one of the tube de- 1 p flating'units thereof;

2 a fragmentary View, similar to that illustrated by Fig. 1, in whichthe elements of'the mechanism are shown in diiferent relative positions "Fig.3 1s a fragmentary I view ofthe deflate n'g machine-taken-from the outer end of one of the deflating units and including a fragmentary cross-sectional view of thelatter taken substantially on line IIIIII of g.- s

Fig. I View, on a'larger scale, taken substantially on line -IV'IVof' Fig. 1 and illustrating a portion of an inner'tube associated 'operatively with the deflating machine; and s Fig. 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of one of the deflating units taken substantially .on'line V-V of Fig. 1.

fthe in- In theillustrated embodiment o tically disposed shaft, not shown. The frame comprises a plurality of spaced pairs 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional of radially disposed elongate members 11 which are connected together attheir outer ends by annular angle members 12-and 15 secured rigidlyat intervalsthereto. The outer ends of the pairs of members 11 andthe angle members 12 and 15 are secured rigidly together at intervalsby vertically disposed bars 20. An annular frame 13, disposed concen'trically with respect to the frame 10, sup ports spaced cam plates 1 4 and 16, a greater portion of which are spaced uniformly'below the frame 10, thus providing a lower;

cam surface portion 17. At the opposite ends of the aforesaid cam surface portion (Fig. 3) the plates 14 and 16 are deflected toward the frame 10 in order to provide inclined cam surface portions 18. At the opposite endsof these portions, the plates 14 and 16,.again project in a direction'parallel to the cam surface 17, thus providing a cam surface 19 which likewise is uniformly spaced 'below the frame 10.

A plurality of tube deflating units '21, pro- I j ecting radially at spaced intervals from the outer periphery of the frame 10, are actuated by a plurality of rollers24 disposed operative- 1y between the plates 14 and 16 and rotatably mountedon'pins 26 rigidly secured in bosses 27 formed at thelower ends of vertically disposed bars 28. Upper portions :of the-bars 28 are slidably disposed in openings formed in brackets29 whichare rigidly secured to the frame 10. Obliquely disposed arms 31 bolted atone end, as indicated at 32, to the upper .endof the bars-28, are provided withspaced lugs '33 at the opposite ends thereof in which cap-screw trunnions 34 are -operatively jour naled. The trunnions project laterally from blocks 36 embodying vertically disposed sleeves 37, which are slidably mounted on I elongate rods .38. Blocks 39, rigidly secured by nuts 41 on the lower :end of the rods 38, pivotally support handles 42 provlded with a spaced lugs 43 at the'lower ends thereof, Which are journaled upon-trunnions'44 pro.-

jecting laterally from the blocks. Springs '46, secured between the blocks 39 and the handles 42 resiliently tend tomaintain the i latter in a vertical position. The upper ends of the handles 42 are provided with spaced pairs of lugs 47 which encircle portions of the rods 38 and upon which the lower ends of the trunnion sleeves37 are adapted to besuptube deflating units should become broken or if for any other reason it should become desirable to discontinue the employment of any unit of the machine, that unit may be rendered inoperative by manually grasping the handle 42 and so pivoting it outwardly upon the trunnions 44 as to disengage the lugs 47'from the lowerend of the sleeve thus permitting the latter to reciprocate'idly upon the rod 38. In order to preventthe lugs 47 from becoming engaged above the trunnion block .36, a bar 35 is secured rigidly upon one of the cap screw trunnions 34 and projects vertically upward in parallel relation to the v rod 38. 7 Thus when the lugs xare inoper atively disposed with respect to the rod 38, the 7 ends thereof slidably engage the bar 35.

The upper ends of the rods 38 are secured rigidly upon pins 48 which are rotatably" mounted in the bifurcated ends 49 of levers 51. Eights-45, mounted adj ustably on rods '50, whicln'in turn, are securedrigidly to the ends of the levers 51 and project laterally therebeyond, tend continuously to urge the aforesaid end of the levers downwardly.

Springs 52, confined between the bifurcated ends 49 of the levers 51 and the upper ends of the sleeves 37 resiliently urge the ends of the levers 51 upwardly when the rollers 24 ascend one of the inclined cam surfaces 18. The levers 51 are hiltermediatelypivoted upon pins153, which are .rigidlysecured between spaced pairs of vertically disposed plates .54.

The inner ends of the plates 54 are secured to upperand outer portions of the frame 10. The ends oft-he levers 51 beyond the pins 53 ane'provided with transversely disposed arms 55 to which clamping jaws 56, composed of rubber o-rother suitable material, are se- .cu-rred adjacent the ends thereof. Pins .57, rigidly secured inthe levers 51 adj-acentthe arms 55, p'ivotally supportends'of links 58 that likewise are pivotally supportedat their oppositefends upon pins 59 secured rigidly between pairs of lugs-61 projecting normally from the 'nppersurfaces of bifurcated levers 62. -'lhe-ends of the latter, oppositethel-ugs 61 are pivotally mounted upon pins ;63 secured rigidly between outer end portions of thepjlates-54/T-he ends-of the bifurcated levers 62,. 0pposite the pins 63i and immediately-adjacent the lugs 61, areprojected laterallyandparallel tothe arms 55 in order to Ip'r-ovi de arms64. Clampingjaws 66, sim-v 'ilar to the jaws 56 and disposed oppositely thereto, ,are secured rigidly to the arms 64 7 .adj acent the ends thereof.

Pins 68 are journaledat oppositeendsin i aligned openings, formed in the levers'5land in the ends of bosses 67 disposed in parallel relation tothe latter and formed integrally, V

therewith. Openings formed transversely within thepins 68 are adapted: slidablyto receive intermediate portions of rods 69 havsprings '71 mounted thereon and confined between washers 7 2 .dispos'ed against the pins 68, and lock nuts '73 engaging the threaded ends thereof. The opposite ends of the rods 69 are providedwith flattened portions 74, whicharep-ivotally secured on pins 76. that are disposed between the slotted ends of obliquely disposed rods 77. Spaced bars 7 8,

secured at their opposite ends between plates; 7

v54, by bolts 81, are provided with aligned openings disposed intermediate the ends thereof in which the rods 77 areslidably mounted. Between the bars 78, the rods 77 are provided with arcuately forrned grooves 82 -.at the oppositesides of which collars, 83 are rigidlysecured upon the rods. 7

, Diametrically opposed.- surfaces :of ."the grooved portions 82 of the rods 77 areadapted to be engaged slidably by, the ends .ofl'inwardly disposed pairs of fingers .84 projecting. from corresponding ends of a pair of spaced rods 86. "Adjacent the fingers 84, therods 86 are journaled in spaced openings formed transversely in a block 87 that is bolted at opposite ends, as indicated at 88, between the plates 54. Beyond the block 87, the rods 86 project transversely toward the arms and 64 and are spaced equally therefroinadjacent the inner ends of the clamping jaws 56 and 66. The ends of the rods 86 are journaled in angle brackets 89 which are secured rigidly beneath a support or bar 91, the latter being uniformly disposed in spaced relation to the rods 86 on the sic es thereof opposite the clamping jaws 56 and 66. Immediately above the support 91, the rods 86 are provided with oppositely disposed integral cams 92. Apertures formed in the intermediate portions of the plate 91 and equally spaced between the cams 92, are adapted to receive relatively short sleeves 95 which project slightly below the lower surfaces thereof.

The opposite ends of the supports 91 are mounted upon the upper ends of spaced pans of guides 93, which, in turn, are secured rigidly adjacent their lower ends between the plates 54. Yokes 96, slidably mounted at opposite ends upon the guides 93, are pro vided with intermediately disposed apertures for receiving end portions of deflating valves 97 which are connected to a common vacuum pump (not shown) by conduits 98. Spaced rods 99, secured at their upper ends in openings projecting transversely through the yokes 96, are adapted slidably to engage openings formed in the ends of the pins 59 proj ecting beyond the bifurcated portions of the arms 62. Cotter'pins 101, secured below the pins 59 in the ends of the rods 99 limit the movement of the latter in one direction. Springs 102, surrounding the rods 99 and abutting the yokes 96 and the pins 59 at opposite ends thereof, resiliently urge the defiating valves 97 toward the supports 91.

The upper ends of pairs of substantially vertically disposed rods 103 are secured rigidly in spaced relation upon the pins 63 which support the ends of the levers 62, The

' lower ends of the rods are bent inwardly toward the frame 10 of the tube deflating ma chine and are secured rigidly in spaced openings formed in the brackets 29.

In the operation of the embodiment of the invention described in detail hereinbefore, the frame 10, carrying a plurality of the tube deflating units 21, is rotated continuously by a motor (not shown). The rollers 24, while traversing the cam surface 19, elevate the ends of the levers 51 engaged by the rods 38 and thus maintain the clamping jaws 56 and 66 in spaced relation (as shown in Fig.

tubes from the machine.

2) onopposite sides of the support 91.; vAlso c,

the deflating valves 97 are moved downwardly away from the supports 91 andgthe cams 92 are so rotated by movement of the grooved portions 82 of the rod 77 as likewise to be disposed remotely "from the plate. While the elements of the mechanism ofa number of-the deflating units are disposed in this relation, an attendant successively inserts valve stems 104 of inner tubes 106 within the sleeve of the units and positions the inclined ends of bridge plates 107 of the tube beneath and between the, cams 92 thereof. L.

Subsequently when the rollers 24 of the units successively traverse one ofthe cam surfaces '18, the resulting movement ofthe ends of, the levers 51 engaging the rods '38, closes the clamping aws 56 and 66 upon portions of the inner'tubes immediately above the valve stems thereof; moves the deflating valvesf97 into operative engagement with the outer ends of the aforesaid valve stems; andso rotates the cams 92 as to urge the bridge plates 107 into engagement with-the supports91. Later, during the movementof the rollers 24 upon the lower cam .surfacell',

the fluid within the inner tubes 106 is eX- hausted through the deflating valves 97.. Since only one, sidewall portion of each inner tube is supported by the spaced rods 103',"

the tubes are collapsed uniformly along the median planes thereof. When the rollers 24 traverse the upwardly inclined cam surfaces 18, the inner tubes 106 are released by the .1. V

.100 elements of the mechanism assume their norclampingjaws 56. and 66 and the remaining mal position as hereinbefore described. The

defiated tubes 106' are removed successively from the supports 91 while the aforesaid cycle of operation is continued. y

From the foregoing description, "it is apparent that'the invention provides a very simple and inexpensive machine for uniformly collapsinginner tubes along their medlan planes. in order to facilitate their convenient packing and handling. Spliced inner-tubes, in which there is a very great tendency toward, wrinkling, are easily'defiated by the aforesaid apparatus by reason of the spaced rods which may be made to support one sidewall portion of an inner tube on opposite sides of thesplice therein. The operation rate of this machine in production is substantially greater thanthat of the machines ordinarily employed, by reason or various modifications may be made therein vention or from claims.

What I claim is z l 1. A tube deflating machine comprising a rigid support for abridge plate of an inner tube, means for securing the plate against the support, and means for moving a deflatthe scope of the appended 'ing valve into operative relation to a valve stem of the tube.

' 2. A tube deflating machine comprising a In witnesswhereof, I have hereunto signed Without departing from the spirit of the inmy name.

Signed and Stat 1928.

4. A tube deflating machine comprising a support for a bridge plate of an inner tube, a pair ofspaced cams adjacent the plate, a pair'of relatively movable jaws for engaging "opposite sidewall portions. of the tube, and.

' 'means controlled by the position of the jaws for rotating the cams against theplate for securing the latter to the support.

5. Atube deflating machine comprising a support for a bridge plate of an inner tube, a deflating valve associated movably therewith,

' and a pair of spaced supporting members for engaging one sidewall portion of the tube.

. 6. A tube deflating machine comprising a support for a bridge plate ofan inner tube,

a deflating valve associated therewith, a pair' of relatively movable jaws for engaging opposite sidewall portions of the tube in the region adjacent the valve stem thereof, and means remote therefrom for supporting a single sidewall portion of the tube. v

7. Atube deflating machine comprising a support for a bridge plate-of an inner tube, 5

a pair of guides projecting below the support, a deflating valve slidably mounted upon theguides, a pair of relatively movable T jaws for engaging opposite sidewall portions of the tube and means controlled by the position of the jaws for moving the deflating valve'relative to a valve stem of the tube.

' -8. A tube deflating machine comprising a support for a bridgeplate of an inner tube,

a spaced pair of rotatable cams adjacent the support for engaging the bridge plate, a pair of relatively movable jaws for engaging opposite sidewall portions of the tube, means controlled by. the position of the jaws for rotatingthe cams. and a resilient element operatively associated with the means.

' at Akron, in the county oiiSummit, e of Ohio, this 12th day of May,

WALLACE H. CAMPBELL. 

